DSM Expands Strategic Alliance with Amyris and Acquires Brazilian Production Facility from Amyris
MILAN, November 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Royal DSM (AEX: DSM.AS), a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials and Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRS), the industrial bioscience company, today announced that they have enhanced their strategic alliance through the sale of Amyris Brasil Ltda to DSM and the establishment of a long-term manufacturing partnership for Amyris' high-volume products.
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The consideration for Amyris Brasil Ltda (which owns and operates the Brotas 1 production facility) and intellectual property related to farnesene (a bio-based key intermediate for many applications) is US$ 58 million plus an additional value share arrangement over a three-year period amounting to US$ 37.5 million (aggregate upfront consideration of US$ 96 million). In addition to the consideration upfront, there is potential for a future value share in line with Amyris' business model.
DSM will continue existing supply-agreements to Amyris and other parties. DSM will also supply Amyris with specialty compounds until it realizes its Brotas 2 specialties production facility. Amyris is accelerating the construction of its second facility dedicated to specialty products while maintaining the manufacturing process development and business support capability located in Campinas, Brazil.
Subject to customary conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the next few months.
With the acquisition of the Brotas 1 facility, DSM adds a state-of-the-art biotechnology-based production site in Brazil to its global network, with abundant availability of sustainable raw materials (sugar cane), securing production capacity for its rich pipeline of sustainable and bio-based solutions. Having broad experience in operating large-scale fermentation plants, DSM will optimize the operational performance of the site.
The strategic alliance between DSM and Amyris started in May 2017 with an equity investment by DSM in Amyris, and has since been expanded with several significant product development collaborations.
The sale of the Brotas 1 facility, which was designed to produce high volumes of farnesene, together with the creation of a long-term production relationship for high-volume farnesene-based intermediates will enable Amyris to focus on its core strength of developing breakthrough bioscience technologies through a portfolio approach that continues to target key markets, as well as the production of specialty products.
"Following our equity investment in Amyris and subsequent product development cooperations, I am pleased that we can add a state-of-the-art fermentation-based production facility to our network. Our know-how in fermentation, downstream process development and large-scale manufacturing will allow us to further improve the operational performance of the facility while further strengthening our strategic alliance with Amyris," said Chris Goppelsroeder, President & CEO of DSM Nutritional Products.
"We are very pleased with the continued expansion of our strategic alliance with DSM," said John Melo, Amyris President & CEO. "This manufacturing partnership and the sale of our Brotas 1 factory allows us to accelerate the development and manufacturing of specialty, high-performance ingredients. We are building a specialty plant at Brotas (Brotas 2) and also expect to complete our São Martinho plant to focus on sweeteners. The combination of these actions provides us the manufacturing footprint to meet our current demand through the next 3-5 years and to manage this within our funding constraints."
Continued Melo, "This transaction completes a planned shift from operating a plant originally designed to produce high volumes of farnesene, to producing an expanding number of high-value, specialty ingredients. This shift will allow Amyris to improve returns and cash flows in order to continue to provide sustainable growth for Amyris and its partners."”
DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 25,000 employees. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at http://www.dsm.com.
About Amyris
Amyris is the integrated renewable products company that is enabling the world's leading brands to achieve sustainable growth. Amyris applies its innovative bioscience solutions to convert plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules and produce specialty ingredients and consumer products. The company is delivering its No Compromise® products across a number of markets, including specialty and performance chemicals, flavors and fragrances, cosmetics ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. More information about the company is available at http://www.amyris.com.
DSM Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to DSM's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of DSM and information currently available to the company. DSM cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading.
Amyris Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, and any statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding future events (such as expected upfront consideration to Amyris in the transaction as well as future value share payments, the anticipated closing of the transaction, including the timing thereof, the expected continuation of existing supply agreements with Amyris and other parties, the anticipated supply of Amyris's specialty compounds, the expected construction of the proposed Brotas 2 facility, the anticipated development and manufacturing of specialty ingredients, the expected construction of a proposed plant focused on sweeteners, anticipated ability to meet current and future demand, and expected improvements in returns, cash flows and growth), that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results and future events may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties, including risks related to Amyris's liquidity and ability to fund operating and capital ex penses, timing and execution risks associated with manufacturing, uncertainty regarding consummating proposed transactions, including the timing thereof, and growth in sales, potential delays or failures in development, production and commercialization of products, risks related to Amyris's reliance on third parties to achieve its goals, and other risks detailed in the "Risk Factors" section of Amyris's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2017. Amyris disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Amyris, the Amyris logo and No Compromise are registered trademarks of Amyris, Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information:
DSM Corporate Communications
Herman Betten
tel. +31(0)45-578-2421
e-mail media.contacts@dsm.com
Amyris, Inc.
Peter DeNardo
tel.: +1(510)740-7481
e-mail: investor@amyris.com
pr@amyris.com
DSM Investor Relations
Dave Huizing
tel.: +31(0)45-578-2864
e-mail: dave.huizing@dsm.com
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